Food Network, Cooking Channel To Debut 20 New Series

2011-12 slate includes projects from Trisha Yearwood, Emeril Lagasse

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/13/2011 3:00:33 PM

Click here for complete coverage of the 2011 upfronts

Food Network and Cooking Channel will premiere 29 new series and see 22 shows return in the 2011-12 season, the networks announced Wednesday at the Scripps Networks Interactive upfront in New York.

The new primetime series on Food Network include Have Cake, Will Travel, about a cake decorator traveling the country to create cakes for special events; Heat Seekers, about two chefs searching for the spiciest food in the country; Tough Cookies, a docu-soap about a multi-generational family running a bakery in New Jersey; and Supersizers, about two foodies who explore the history of cusine in different eras and receive medical exams to see how the diets of the past affect their bodies.

New series in daytime include a project from food blogger Ree Drummond called Pioneer Woman and a untitled cooking series from country singer Trisha Yearwood.

The Cooking Channel has five new series in primetime: Eat St., Unique Sweets, The Originals With Emeril, From Spain With Love, and Hook, Line & Dinner. New daytime series are The Perfect 3, Baking Made Easy, and an untitled project from food entrepreneur Ching-He Huang.

Scripps' upfront took place at Cipriani 42^nd Street, where attendees were treated to a breakfast buffett and appearances from Scripps stars, including chef Bobby Flay, Adam Richman (Travel Channel's Man v. Food), and Rob "Vanilla Ice" Van Winkle (DIY's The Vanilla Ice Project).